WASHINGTON – Democrats quickly rallied around the vice president Kamala Harris as his likely presidential candidate on Sunday after President Joe Biden the revolutionary decision to abandon the 2024 race, a volatile and rapidly evolving political situation just months before the November elections.
Shortly after Biden stepped aside he firmly supported Harris, who make history as the country’s first Black and South Asian woman to become a major party’s presidential candidate. Other support came from former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the first major female presidential candidate, and from prominent U.S. senators, a broad swath of House representatives and members of the influential Congressional Black Caucus.
Potential challengers for the position became instant supporters of Harris.
As Democrats organize to take on Republicans donald trump This fall, Biden said choosing Harris as his vice president was the first and “best decision” he made. “Let’s do this,” he said.
“My intention is to win and earn this nomination,” Harris said in a statement.
However, the political and logistical situation facing Democrats remains somewhat uncertain, as the party that had hoped to sail into the November elections by portraying Trump as a quasi-authoritarian leader and a threat to American democracy, now has to reshuffle the top of the his ticket in a matter of weeks – before the party nominating convention starts on August 19th.
A wave appeared to be building for Harris to lead the party — within hours Biden’s campaign formally changed its name to Harris for president, reflecting that she is inheriting his political operation — but there is notable resistance.
Former President Barack Obama and Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, who are widely seen as planning Biden’s withdrawal of the race, as they were concerned not only with keeping the White House but also with gaining control of Congress, they did not explicitly endorse Harris, and Pelosi is in favor of open primaries to strengthen an eventual candidate.
And West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party earlier this year to become an independent, is considering re-registering as a Democrat to run for the vice presidential nomination, according to his longtime adviser. , Jonathan Kott.
Top Democrats believe Harris would benefit from what some call a “mini-primary.” They argue that a quick primary campaign would show the American people, party donors and skeptics that Harris is best for the job, and give potential candidates a chance to compete — or at least debut as potential running mates.
Harris was making late-day calls to congressional lawmakers and garnering support, including from Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire, chairwoman of the New Democratic Coalition, a moderate caucus on Capitol Hill, which endorsed Harris on Sunday. Harris and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke on Sunday afternoon, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation.
Democratic National Committee President Jaime Harrison promised a “transparent and orderly process.”
With early voting taking place within a few months, Democrats have no time to waste if they hope to compete against an energized Republican Party that has embraced Trump’s return. They must pivot quickly to unify a shaken Democratic Party, reorient an entire campaign apparatus around a new presidential ticket, and organize the vote-getting game.
The Trump team faces its own challenge, refocusing its relentless attacks on Biden’s age, 81, stamina and ability to govern, on a yet-to-be-nominated Democratic nominee, who appears increasingly likely to be Harris. Among the top potential candidates, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said she will not run, and the governors. California’s Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and North Carolina’s Roy Cooper supported Harris on Sunday.
“She has what it takes to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country with care and integrity,” Cooper said on social media.
Before Biden’s announcement, Republicans had already signaled their initial strategy of criticizing Harris as complicit in supporting him despite his difficulties, and are working on legal challenges to the 2024 elections.
“Not only would Harris be a disaster in the White House, but she also helped Biden cover up his declining health while in office, which undermines his credibility,” said a statement from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley and Co-Chair Lara Trump. .
Even with Harris’ endorsement of Biden, there has been active debate about his rise among Democratic heavyweights — lawmakers, deep-pocketed donors and former high-ranking officials from the Biden, Obama and Clinton administrations, according to a Democrat with deep ties to Biden. -Harris Administration.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations, said a mini-primary would help Harris seal her bona fides as a strong, shrewd candidate and help ease criticism that she was undemocratically anointed — something she Trump campaign has already done. tried to use it against her.
But for several Democratic allies and lawmakers who immediately supported Harris for the nomination, it would be untenable for the party to ignore what would be her historic candidacy.
Washington Sen. Patty Murray said she supports Harris “100 percent.” Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said Harris “has the experience, energy and determination to lead our nation.” Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said he will “enthusiastically support my friend.”
Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono, Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and California Sen. Laphonza Butler also said they would support Harris, who served as a U.S. senator, as did a growing number of Democratic lawmakers in the House .
Still, other Democrats have remained silent on supporting Harris or pushing for an open process.
Democratic Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont said in an interview with the Associated Press that he thinks the party needs to “make our decisions first about who can best represent us so we can defeat Trump.”
Donors are participating. Chad Griffin, a member of the campaign’s national finance committee and a top Democratic fundraiser in the Los Angeles area, said the party is lucky to have Harris. “She is the trusted, tested leader we need to lead us to victory in November,” he said in a statement.
The Democratic convention in Chicago, which was supposed to be a coronation for Biden, now becomes an open contest in which around 4,700 delegates will be responsible for choosing a new standard bearer.
Biden had won all state primaries and caucuses earlier this year and only lost the territory of American Samoa. At least 3,896 delegates pledged to support it.
Current party rules do not allow Biden to pass them on to another candidate. Politically, however, her endorsement will likely be very influential.
The immediate responsibility falls to Harris to solidify the support of nearly 4,000 delegates from the states, territories and the District of Columbia, as well as more than 700 the so-called superdelegates which include party leaders, certain elected officials, and former presidents and vice presidents.
__ Associated Press writers Bill Barrow in Atlanta and Mary Clare Jalonick, Aamer Madhani, Seung Min Kim and Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this story.
